Kids left to own devices while parents shoot up in shed

A MUM and dad from Mirani who shot up the drug ice in their shed while their three young children were left unsupervised will be referred to the Department of Child Safety by a concerned magistrate.

The worrying behaviour was aired in Mackay Magistrates Court on Thursday.

A man in his 20s, who can't be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to breaching a domestic violence order on April 1. Prosecutor Nathaniel Gillis told Magistrate Damien Dwyer the man and his now ex-partner had been celebrating the woman's birthday.

A violent altercation later broke out and the woman attempted to self-harm, leading the man to phone 000.

"The defendant told police that he and his wife had both injected ice the day previously ... ,” Mr Gillis said.

"And earlier on the day of the incident they had both tried to get some sleep. The defendant stated when his wife awoke she was in a bad mood and that escalated into a verbal argument.”

The man ventured off to the shed to drink beer and his wife later brought him dinner, sparking another argument.

Becoming angry, the man smashed the plate and held "his wife down on the bonnet of a car by her throat”, using "a fair amount of pressure”.

Mr Gillis said "three children were present in the house when the incident took place”.

Halting the prosecutor, Mr Dwyer clarified what he had been told.

"Are you telling me, Mr Gillis, that three children were in the house while they were injecting ice?” he asked.

Mr Gillis confirmed that, and added the man, who had prior order breaches on his record, claimed he had been restraining his wife and "took it too far”.

The children were all aged under 10 at the time.

Another prosecutor, Sergeant Sabine Scott, added "there has been a review of the child harm”.

Mr Dwyer exclaimed he would "refer it to the Department of Child Safety” and they could "take whatever action they choose”.

Defence solicitor Geoff Govey said methamphetamines (ice) had not been injected in front of the children.

He noted the department had already become involved and the man had since passed drug tests.

Mr Dwyer appeared unimpressed, pointing out the children must have been left alone while the parents were using the highly addictive stimulant. The magistrate said he would still be raising the issue with the department.

Continuing, Mr Govey said his client instructed he "doesn't use ice regularly”, and that he had also been a victim of his wife's "hitting and kicking”.

Handing down the man's sentence, Mr Dwyer warned him he was "one step away from prison”.

The man was placed on probation for 15 months and ordered to complete 120 hours of community service.